Hypertension often is mislabeled as being nervous

Gessler Corner

Published: Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 12:46 p.m.

enever anyone hears the word hypertension, he or she often believes it means they are nervous.

Actually, this is far from the truth. The American medical profession uses the term hypertension to mean high blood pressure. However, the definition of high blood pressure has changed. It is not because of an arbitrary naming system that this has changed.

Studies have shown that blood pressure that is 120 over 80 or less should be considered normal blood pressure. Anything above this number is considered abnormal. The reason the standard has been changed is that studies now tell us that for every increment above this number, the risks of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death increases. There is no question that these increases are mild until the blood pressure consistently is 140 over 90 or greater.

There is a new term and classification of hypertension. The term is pre-hypertension. This is hypertension that is 121 over 70 to 139 over 89 or less.

In this stage, physicians will use this time to try to get the blood pressure back to the normal range. This is done by diet, exercise and salt restriction.

The next level of blood pressure is known as hypertension, stage 1 and that is 140 to 159 over 90 to 99.

The next stage is hypertension, stage 2, which is any blood pressure 160 over 100 or more. If a person has high blood pressure, the physician will want to keep the blood pressure at 140 over 90 or less. If that same person has diabetes, the physician wants the blood pressure at 130 over 80 or less.

When I first graduated from medical school many years ago, there were only a handful of medications for blood pressure. Today, that is not the case.

There are multiple medications in different classes that work extremely well to control blood pressure. It is very important for anyone who has high blood pressure or suspected high blood pressure to see a doctor for a complete evaluation.

Once an evaluation is completed and a person carries the diagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension, he or she must follow up on a regular basis with a doctor.

Dr. Gordon Rafool is a specialist in geriatrics and family practice at Gessler Clinic in Winter Haven.

<p>enever anyone hears the word hypertension, he or she often believes it means they are nervous.</p><p>Actually, this is far from the truth. The American medical profession uses the term hypertension to mean high blood pressure. However, the definition of high blood pressure has changed. It is not because of an arbitrary naming system that this has changed.</p><p>Studies have shown that blood pressure that is 120 over 80 or less should be considered normal blood pressure. Anything above this number is considered abnormal. The reason the standard has been changed is that studies now tell us that for every increment above this number, the risks of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death increases. There is no question that these increases are mild until the blood pressure consistently is 140 over 90 or greater.</p><p>There is a new term and classification of hypertension. The term is pre-hypertension. This is hypertension that is 121 over 70 to 139 over 89 or less.</p><p>In this stage, physicians will use this time to try to get the blood pressure back to the normal range. This is done by diet, exercise and salt restriction.</p><p>The next level of blood pressure is known as hypertension, stage 1 and that is 140 to 159 over 90 to 99.</p><p>The next stage is hypertension, stage 2, which is any blood pressure 160 over 100 or more. If a person has high blood pressure, the physician will want to keep the blood pressure at 140 over 90 or less. If that same person has diabetes, the physician wants the blood pressure at 130 over 80 or less.</p><p>When I first graduated from medical school many years ago, there were only a handful of medications for blood pressure. Today, that is not the case.</p><p>There are multiple medications in different classes that work extremely well to control blood pressure. It is very important for anyone who has high blood pressure or suspected high blood pressure to see a doctor for a complete evaluation.</p><p>Once an evaluation is completed and a person carries the diagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension, he or she must follow up on a regular basis with a doctor.</p><p>Dr. Gordon Rafool is a specialist in geriatrics and family practice at Gessler Clinic in Winter Haven.</p>